Dummy News and Views the Newsletter of the United States Stamp Society - Dummy Stamps Study Group

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1 Dummy News and Views the Newsletter of the United States Stamp Society - Dummy Stamps Study Group Issue Number 51 Spring 2018 Welcome to the Dummy Stamps Study Group s Fifty-first Newsletter This newsletter is produced quarterly by the United States Stamp Society s - Dummy Stamps Study Group for your information and pleasure. We hope that the information included in this newsletter will be informative, useful and encourage your enjoyment of collecting dummy/test stamps. Our goal is to keep you up-to-date with the latest information available to our group. Questions, comments and articles proposed for publication should be directed to Terry R. Scott, Chairman of the United States Stamp Society s Dummy Stamps Study Group at terryrscott@comcast.net Annual Meeting with the Scott Catalogue Editor Emeritus at WESTPEX 2018 by Terry R. Scott Once again this year at the annual WESTPEX stamp show in San Francisco April 27-29, 2018, I was joined by Mike Perry and Doug Iams for another very productive meeting with Mr. James Kloetzel - Editor Emeritus of the Scott Catalogue. We schedule to meet every year at WESTPEX for the opportunity to present to Jim our ideas to improve the Test Stamp section of the upcoming 2019 edition of the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps & Covers and to report new discoveries. As usual Jim was very receptive to our suggestions and comments. I apologize for no photo this year as we were so focused on new things for the 2019 Scott Specialized Catalogue I completely forgot to get a photo. Defacement Lines on Scott TD107b For Testing Purposes Only Coils Part 2 by Terry R. Scott & Michael O. Perry We started this series of articles on the Scott TD107b For Testing Purposes Only (FTPO) coils with different color defacement lines in the Winter issue of the Dummy Stamps Study Group's Newsletter (Dummy News and Views). In that issue we covered a large number of these fascinating collectibles beginning with TD107b FTPO coils with black color defacement lines. In this issue we will continue this subject and will illustrate some of the other known colors of defacement lines on the TD107b FTPO coils. We begin with illustrating different known varieties of blue defacement lines; followed In this issue: Annual WESTPEX Meeting with James Kloetzel 1 Defacement Lines on Scott TD107b For Testing Purposes Only Coils Part 2 1 Recent Auctions of Interest 9 Request For Articles For The United States Specialist 12 Proposed Future DSSG Projects 12 please turn to page 2 1 of 12

2 with orange and red defacement lines. Violet defacement lines, and examples of fake defacement lines, will be covered in a subsequent issue of the DSSG Newsletter. Let us recap our method of numbering the TD107b FTPO coils with color defacement lines. There is no existing standard as we know for the listing of these so we developed our own that is as follows: Using the following as an example, this is the description of any particular TD107b FTPO coil with defacement lines. The first example, as shown in the previous DSSG Newsletter, was for TD107b-BLK-1a The "TD107b" is the Scott catalogue number; the "BLK" is a three letter description of the color, in this example "BLK" is black. The "1" at the end is the number of defacement lines printed across the stamp(s). The added "a" is to note that this is the first example with a single black defacement line. Subsequent examples with a single black defacement line will have increasing letters at the end of the identification number. Another example would be: TD107b- ORA-2b. In this case the "TD107b" is the Scott catalogue number; the "ORA" is a three letter description of the color, in this example "ORA" is orange. The "2" at the end is the number of defacement lines printed across the stamp(s) and the added "b" is a variation of the TD107b- ORA-2, in this case this example with the added "b" has dull tagging. The TD107b-ORA-2a has an identical defacement line, but is with bright tagging. In this series of articles we will illustrate numerous Scott TD107b FTPO coils with defacement lines printed in the following colors: BLK=black; BLU=blue; BRN=brown; ORA=orange; PNK=pink; RED=red; VIO=violet (ofter incorrectly described as purple). There more than likely will be other colors that we will illustrate and hopefully you will get the picture of what to expect by understanding how these examples are numbered. One thing we will not attempt to do is assign values to any of the examples shown here. Your efforts to find some of the different colors with different number of lines, width of lines and spacing of lines will dictate how scarce you think they are. The following images are enlarged in an attempt to show minor differences in the dimensions given. In order to see the differences more readily, we have illustrated most examples at the same vertical size. It is our experience that within a longer strip of a Scott TD107b FTPO coil with defacement lines, there is sometimes a differing width of the printed lines and, therefore, a differing space between the printed lines, in the case of two or more lines. This is normal because of the way the lines were applied. With this in mind, remember that the measurements given in this newsletter are "approximate" and slight differences will be noted from stamp to stamp. Attempts to find out who and where the different defacement lines were applied have yielded no answers. It would be greatly appreciated if you contact me at the address listed on the first page if you have any information regarding this. Data Link Corporation is believed to have applied red and violet defacement lines to some Scott TD107b FTPO coils. This appears to be the case since there is a DL printed between the three printed lines on some FTPO stamps. At the time, Data Link Corporation made hand held postage stamp dispensers that were sold at post office counters and they may have been directed to deface the Scott TD107b FTPO coils that were used to demonstrate the stamp dispensers so there was no doubt they were not to be used for postage. So, let's continue our look at some examples of the Scott TD107b FTPO coils with different color defacement lines. First we will illustrate some of the different Scott TD107b FTPO coils with blue defacement lines. We will put the identification number under the illustrations as well as any notes that help identify each particular item, such as color of lines, number of lines, width of lines and spacing of lines. please turn to page 3 2 of 12

3 TD107b-BLU-1a One 2-1/2 mm dark blue line. This variety has dull tagging. TD107b-BLU-1b One 3 mm light blue line. This variety has very dull tagging. TD107b-BLU-1c One irregular 4 mm blue line. This variety has dull tagging. The strip shows partial plate numbers / TD107b-BLU-1c One irregular 4 mm blue line. This variety has dull tagging. The strip shows partial plate numbers / The above two strips are from the same roll and note the different defacement line colors. please turn to page 4 3 of 12

4 TD107b-BLU-1d One 5 mm dark blue line. This variety has very dull tagging. The strip of 6 shown above has been graphically cropped from a strip of 8. The 6 stamps from the right end of this strip of 8 is shown below and includes the right 4 stamps shown in the strip above. TD107b-BLU-1d One 5 mm dark blue line. This variety has very dull tagging. This strip has very irregular bottom edge printing and possibly shows another separate skipping printed line below the 4.00mm blue line. Note the abrupt ending of the 4.00mm blue defacement line at the right and it suddenly goes straight upwards off the top of the stamps. Note that the far right stamp has a joint line at the right edge and the stamp at the end of this strip barely shows a portion of plate number at the bottom of the stamp. TD107b-BLU-1e One 3-1/2 mm bluish ultramarine line. The top edge of the blue defacement line is very straight while the bottom edge of the defacement line is a little wavy. TD107b-BLU-1e One 2-1/2 to 4 mm mm bluish ultramarine line. The top edge of the blue defacement line is very straight while the bottom edge of the defacement line is a little wavy. This joint line strip of 6 and the strip of 6 are from the same roll but note the differences of the line between the two strips. please turn to page 5 4 of 12

5 TD107b-BLU-1f One 3-1/2 mm bluish green line. The stamp paper is the yellowish paper variety mentioned in the Scott Catalogue. TD107b-BLU-1g One 4 mm blue line that seem to wander aimlessly and then split and then merge and then suddenly heads upward. TD107b-BLU-2a Two 1/2 mm blue-green lines with a 5 mm space between lines. TD107b-BLU-3a Three 1/4 mm blue lines. A 1-3/4 mm space between the top two lines and a 2 mm space between the bottom two lines. please turn to page 6 5 of 12

6 TD107b-ORA-1a One 1 mm orange line. It is quite blurry printed, therefore, difficult to measure accurately. TD107b-ORA-1b One 2 mm orange line. TD107b-ORA-2a Two 1 mm orange lines with a 2 mm space in between. This example has bright tagging. TD107b-ORA-2b Two 1 mm orange lines with a 2 mm space in between. This example has dull tagging. please turn to page 7 6 of 12

7 TD107b-PNK-1a One 1-1/4 mm pink line. This is possibly a variety of a red defacement line but is quite clearly pink in color. See the strip of six TD107b-RED--1a at bottom of this page where the line changes from pink to red. TD107b-RED-1a One 1 mm red line. TD107b-RED-1a One 1 mm red line. The red line seems to be hand drawn but it is printed but wandering. Another example is shown below. TD107b-RED-1a One 1 mm red line. The red line seems to be hand drawn but it is printed but wandering. Note that on the strip above the left three stamps appear to have a pink line and the right three a red line. please turn to page 8 7 of 12

8 TD107b-RED-3a Three 3/4 mm red lines. A 4 mm space between lines. Note that on stamp #1 and Stamp #5 and #6 there is an inverted "DL" between the top and middle horizontal red defacement lines. On stamps #1 and #4 there is an inverted "DL" between the middle and bottom horizontal red defacement lines. Note that on stamp #4 there are vertical lines that go off the top and bottom of the stamps. This is the end of the printing mat that applied the red defacement lines to these stamps. The length of the cancellation device that applied the red defacement lines is approximately 3.8 stamps in width and in longer strips you can see how the pattern repeats every 3.8 stamps (about 3-1/8"). It is speculated that the "DL" is for the Data Link Company that made stamp dispensers for sale at the post offices and they also furnished TD107b FTPO test stamps to demonstrate how the stamp applicators worked. These TD107b-RED-3a FTPO test stamps are from those demonstrations. TD107b-RED-3a EFO Variety The enlarged strip of 3 with joint line shows the TD107b-RED-3a EFO Variety. On the TD107b- RED-3a EFO Variety shown above there are two full impressions of the 3 red defacement lines that are seen on TD107b-RED-3a. In each of the sets of 3 red defacement lines, there are three 3/4 mm red lines with a 4 mm space between lines. Note that one set of the 3 red defacement lines has the DL inverted while the second set of 3 red defacement lines has the DL shown in the upright position. Most known TD107b-RED-3a stamps have only one set of the 3 red defacement lines and the "DL" is almost always inverted. This example was apparently processed twice during the application of the red defacement lines with the "DL", with one of the applications in the upright position. Additional information on Scott TD107b stamps with fake defacement lines can be found in an excellent article by Joann Lenz in the October 2006 issue of The United States Specialist. It is also available at: This article on Scott TD107b with different color defacement lines will continue in the Summer 2018 issue of the Dummy Stamps Study Group Newsletter. please turn to page 9 8 of 12

9 Recent Auctions of Interest to Dummy Stamp Collectors by Terry R. Scott On March 23-24, 2018 Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions, LLC held Sale #712 that contained the following test stamps. There is a 20% Buyer's Premium for this sale. Lot 108 * US - Test Stamps. Scott TD101B- TD101E, 1954 Eureka Specialty Printing Test Stamps, Disturbed OG. Photo. CV $3, Realization $1, (Ed. note: This is only the third set of these stamps reported.) On May 2, 2018 Downeast Stamps held Sale #313 that contained the following test stamps. There is a 12% Buyer s Premium for this sale. Lot 2422 ** 1997 Walmart Dummy stamps, strip/3 plus 3 different mailbox magnets featuring 32 Bugs Bunny, 32 Tweety & Sylvester & 33 Daffy Duck, w/article of explanation. Photo. Est. $ Realization unknown. Lot 182 ** U.S., Coil Rolls Accumulation. #840 Cleveland, Ohio pre-cancel partial coil roll of stamps, #C37 coil roll of 500, Test Coils; approximately "For Testing Purposes Only" test coil partial rolls and nearly a full coil roll of 500 of the Blank test coil stamps, o.g., never hinged, Photo. Fine to Very Fine. Estimate $ $ Realized $ On May 9, 2018 Vance Auctions Ltd. held Sale #330 that contained the following test On April19, 2018 Hunt & Co. held Sale #1803 that contained the following test stamps. There is no Buyer s Premium for this sale. stamps. There is no Buyer's Premium for this sale. Lot 4700 * TD44, Complete Dummy Test Booklet with small Daffodil cover & containing 1 pane of 8 small size blank "test" stamps. The back outside cover shows test colour bars & the inside back cover with write-up for American Garden stamps. VF, NH. Scarce. Photo. Catalog. $ Realized $ Cdn. please turn to page 10 9 of 12

10 Lot 4703 * TDB45, Complete Dummy Test Booklet with medium sized Daffodil cover & containing 3 panes of 20 small size blank "test" stamps. (Ed. note: This booklet contains 2 panes of 20 stamps) Back outside cover shows test colour bars. The inside back cover with write-up for American Garden stamps. VF, NH, block of 4 separated from one pane. Photo. Catalog. $ Lot 4701 * TDB41, Complete Dummy Test Booklet with Daffodil cover and containing 4 panes of 10 small size blank "test" stamps. The outside back cover shows test colour bars. The inside back cover contains write-up for American Garden stamps. VF, NH. A VERY SCARCE TEST BOOKLET. Photo. Catalog. $ Realized $ Cdn. Lot 4702 * TDB43b, Complete Dummy Test Booklet with large Daffodil cover & containing 2 panes of 10 large size rectangular blank "test" stamps. The back outside cover shows test colour bars. The inside back cover has write-up for American Garden stamps. VF, NH. Scarce. Scarce. Photo. Catalog. $ Realized $ Cdn. Not sold. Lot 4704 * TDB92a, Self adhesive TEST BOOKLET pane of 18. VF, NH. Photo. Catalog. $ Not sold. On May 15-19, 2018 Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions, LLC held Sale #713 that contained the following test stamps. There is a 20% Buyer s Premium for this sale. Lot 3455 ** TDB12a & TDB17b Booklets, 1960's, two dummy booklets complete (Scott TDB12a, TDB17b), o.g., never hinged, Very Fine. Photo. Scott $ Realized $ Images for Lot 3455 are on Page 11 please turn to page of 12

11 Images for Lot 3455 above Lot 3643 ** TD84A Test Stamp, 1920s-'50s, B.E.P. blank design, gum breaker ridges 5mm to 6.5mm apart (Scott TD84A), full pane of 100, o.g., 99 stamps never hinged; damaged selvage at upper right affects one stamp slightly, otherwise Very Fine. Photo. Scott $1, Not sold. please turn to page of 12

12 Requests for Articles for The United States Specialist Leonard Piszkiewicz, Editor of The United States Specialist, is always looking for articles of interest for inclusion in our society s monthly publication. The type of articles Len needs most are the shorter ones, one or two-page articles. If you are considering writing an article for The United States Specialist, please contact him for instructions. If the article is regarding dummy stamps, I would appreciate knowing about it also. Many members of the DSSG have written articles on dummy stamps and other stamps for this publication. It is rewarding and other USSS members benefit greatly from the information that is published in The United States Specialist. Leonard can be reached by at: lenp@pacbell.net Proposed Future DSSG Projects Updating Research Paper Number 3 - Dummy Stamp Booklets Work is progressing, very much still at a snail s pace, on updating Research Paper Number 3 - Dummy Stamp Booklets. The last update by Earl McAfee, Dummy Booklets Study Group Chairman, was in Since then there have been many new discoveries. Many of them have been written up in articles in The United States Specialist. Now the time has come to document and illustrate them in a new updated version of Research Paper Number 3. I am in charge of this update project and knowing that it will take quite a bit of time to complete, have no estimated completion date in mind. I will be asking all of you to join me in this project as I am not able to do it all, nor would you want me to do it all. It is a DSSG project and all members should have a chance to provide their input. Several illustrations are needed and a listing of these will be sent to you when I compile it. Scans at 300 dpi are necessary for clarity. It is anticipated that this publication will be in color. It has not yet been determined if it will be available on CD. The Other Projects There are several other projects currently being worked on by various members of the DSSG. They are as follows: Compiling a complete and comprehensive list of dummy test stamp roll sizes, box and roll labels. There are many different styles of labels sometimes found on the same test stamps. This is especially true of Bureau of Engraving and Printing products Compiling a complete and comprehensive record of auction appearances and prices realized for test stamps Compiling a complete and comprehensive listing of references for test stamps Compiling a complete and comprehensive list of plate numbers printed on test stamps and the frequency in which they appear and the frequency of joint lines on test coils when they appear. This issue and all past issues of the Dummy Stamps Study Group Newsletter - Dummy News and Views may be found at: 12 of 12